Water is a conductor of electricity, and it is possible for you to be electrocuted while in the shower if lightning should strike nearby. According to John Jensenius, a lightning safety specialist for the National Weather Service (NWS), in order to stay safe in your home during a storm, you need to stay away from anything that conducts electricity, which includes both wires and the plumbing, Accuweather reports. Seriously though, it's long been rumored that taking a nice, hot soak in the tub or enjoying a warm shower is a dangerous proposition when electricity is coursing through the sky. Most of the time, that means a TV or some other plugged-in appliances get fried as the current makes its way to the ground. However, it is best to avoid any contact with plumbing and running water during a lightning storm to reduce your risk of being struck. March 22, 2018. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention strongly encourage people to avoid all water-based activities during a thunderstorm even the washing up to reduce your risk of a strike. While the chances of lightning traveling through plumbing is greater with metal pipes than plastic pipes, its still important to avoid all water sources. Neurogenic shock is a life-threatening condition often caused by trauma or injury to the spine. Stay away from windows and doors, and stay off porches and balconies. A lightning strike poses the risk of death by electrocution. Campsite restrooms are a good choice for shelter; if you're on water, head to shore immediately. Physics Lecturer, Nottingham Trent University. Can I use water in my home during a thunderstorm? Our editor completed a hands-on review of their products and reputation. Its also unsafe to take baths. Last medically reviewed on August 29, 2021. But some storms start while people are showering . This is due to the risk of. Is Dopamine Fasting a Way to Fix Your Brain or a Silicon Valley Fad? LifeSavvy is focused on a single goal: helping you make the most informed purchases possible. Showering in a storm is perfectly safe, as long as your house is wired correctly Share Tennis live scores Keep across all the live scores and results from the Australian Open at Melbourne Park 1 / 2 Showering in a storm is perfectly safe, as long as your house is wired correctly Posted Mon 12 Feb 2018 at 12:17am, updated Mon 12 Feb 2018 at 12:42am Kate Kershner Immediately get out of and away from ponds, lakes, and other bodies of water. Do not use corded phones. So, basically, showering in a thunderstorm leaves you open to a double-whammy of electricity that can travel through your pipes and the water in it to shock you while you're just trying to clean up. These cookies perform functions like remembering presentation options or choices and, in some cases, delivery of web content that based on self-identified area of interests. But it's not just the metal that's an issue: Water can carry electrical currents from lightning, too, said lightning expert Mary Ann Cooper, MD, professor emerita of the College of Medicine at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Here are the top, Hypovolemic shock is a life-threatening condition caused by losing more than 15 percent of blood or fluids, preventing the heart from pumping enough. An excellent excuse to skip doing the dishes during a dark and stormy night! As of Aug. 1, 2018, 15 people had been killed and 58 people had been injured by lightning according to The National Weather Service and StruckbyLightning.org. Saving Lives, Protecting People. First, lets quickly tackle the difference between thunder and lightning. (2021). (2017). These are the fruits that are safe (and not safe) for your dog to eat, These Clever Food Hacks Get Kids To Eat Healthy, The 5 Ways You Know Youre Too Old For Roommates, Colorado man was struck inside his garage. Cell phones and cordless phones are okay. Sometimes, though, it can be confusing to know what advice is a myth and what is legitimate. Globally, about 24,000 people each year are killed by lightning and another 240,000 are injured. But are we completely safe once were inside? Dwyer said you should even avoid washing your hands or doing the dishes during a thunderstorm. The electricity from a lightning strike can travel through these wires, so its recommended to avoid being on concrete floors or walls. These cookies may also be used for advertising purposes by these third parties. For more information on safe shelters, visit our lightning safety tips page. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website. Never shelter under an isolated tree. It could turn that nice relaxing shower into something much less relaxing. Is it safe to touch somebody who was struck by lightning? Do NOT lie on the ground. What is my risk of being struck by lightning? The risk of lightning travelling through plumbing might be less with plastic pipes than with metal pipes. The reason you should be concerned about getting showering during a thunderstorm is that lightning can travel through your pipes. But, as we said earlier, with more than a dozen people getting hurt each year, it's not the biggest threat. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) caution that if there's a thunderstorm going on, you should avoid showering entirely. When you purchase through our links we may earn a commission. If the lightning strikes a water pipe, the electricity can move along the pipes and cause electrocution. The sound of thunder is like a warning, as it means youre within the striking distance of lightning. Its one of those old wives tales that most people have heard a zillion times throughout their lives. Luckily, there were no long-term effects of the strike, but she does claim that for a few months after the fact, her vision had somehow improved. Metal plumbing and the water inside are excellent conductors of electricity. Looking back, it may seem silly that we were ever so scared of thunderstorms. The risk of lightning travelling through plumbing might be less with plastic pipes than with metal pipes. As thunderclouds move over the Earth, they generate an opposite charge in the ground, and this is what attracts a lighting strike towards the ground. The New York man noticed a tingling in his left hand while surveying a computer that had been fried during the storm and only then realized that he, too, had been struck. And that doesn't just mean sitting in the tub, waiting for (literal) lightning to strike. Turns out, there's a real risk to your health there. Lightning can cause injuries in several ways: We take your privacy seriously. What Causes Numbness in the Left Side of the Face? Theyre called fleas because they travel by jumping around. Lightning strike injuries are not well documented. 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Her writing has appeared in Thought Catalog, The List, Drink Me Magazine, the Auburn Examiner, and Litro Magazine in the United Kingdom. Do not shower, bathe, wash dishes, or wash your hands. Bolts of lightning are shown striking south of San . Dr. Kman said, "I've been an ER physician for 13 years, and I have not seen someone struck by lightning in their house." You might be surprised to hear that thunderstorms still pose a risk when you're somewhere like the shower which involves being stood under a stream of water. Never use a cliff or rocky overhang for shelter. A recent report by the CDC indicates that lightning can travel through plumbing, so doing anything involving your waterlike showering, washing your hands, and doing the dishesshould all be avoided to reduce your risk of getting struck. (Ba-dum-dum.) Queensland Ambulance said the boy was conscious and breathing after the incident, but he was taken to the Prince Charles Hospital with leg pain. 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